Heloise: Wash clothes inside out to preserve their looks

Dear Heloise: You printed a hint from a mother who insisted that her family turn clothes right side out before putting them in the hamper. I have to disagree. Some laundry tags say to turn clothes inside out. It saves the color and keeps them looking new longer. I have done this for years, especially with the newer fabrics. — Margaret Ingraham, Lubbock, Texas

Dear Margaret: You are right — turning garments inside out will help!

Dear Heloise: My husband recently suffered from back pain. For his comfort and convenience, he slept for several nights in our guest bedroom.

It made restless nights easier (for both of us) for him to use his cell phone to call our home phone number. I had the phone by the bedside.

He was able to wake me anytime during the night to tell me what he needed without him having to move unnecessarily or to yell to get my attention. — Karen, Flower Mound, Texas

Dear Heloise: Don't you just hate those new erasers on pencils? They get hard soon after your purchase. Here's a great way to renew them: Take sandpaper and rub it all around. Now it works like new. — A reader, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: We save plastic foam by bringing our own containers for leftovers when we go out. Restaurants seem to be friendly toward this, and it helps the environment. If the container is microwaveable, you can heat your leftovers and not use another dish. — Stan Folsom, via e-mail

— Hints can be sent to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; faxed to 210-HELOISE; or e-mailed to heloise@heloise.com. She can't answer letters personally but will use the best hints received in her column.